State Rep. Jack Hennessy announced on Tuesday that two Bridgeport colleagues in the State House, Don Clemons and Charlie Stallworth, will support his legislation barring city employees from serving on the City Council–prohibited by the City Charter but allowed by a loophole in state law–with a grandfather stipulation. Hennessy says state legal counsel has advised him there’s no constitutional issues implementing a grandfather clause allowing current city employees on the City Council to continue seeking office to the city’s legislative body. Speaker of the House Brendan Sharkey has stated he will not bring Hennessy’s bill forward for a vote without more support from the city’s legislation delegation. This now brings, under this scenario, four of six State House members supporting some version of the bill. Hennessy says the city suffers from conflicts of interest such as city employees on the council voting to approve their own wages and benefits. Several members of the city’s state legislative delegation had balked at supporting Hennessy’s bill fearing they would alienate political supporters on the council. Hennessy hopes the amendment provides a spark for passage. Hennessy statement:
I want to thank Rep Clemons and Rep Stallworth for their support of H.B. 5724 with the stipulation of a compromise, a ‘grandfather clause’ to allow existing city council members to remain on the city council in perpetuity while remaining city employees. Attached is the amendment that will do that. I am now prepared to ask that the amendment be made available to be called. I encourage support from the remaining members of the Bridgeport delegation. To be clear, Rep Grogins has been in support of the bill (as is) and was instrumental in getting it out of the Planning and Development Committee as she is a member of that committee. Support is continuing to build for the bill and I am looking forward to working together with the Bridgeport delegation to close the state loop-hole and allow our municipal Charter prohibition language to become empowered (presented below).
It is my belief the passage of H. B. 5724 will be a positive step for Bridgeport’s future.
Hennessy’s bill amendment:
Amendment to HB 5724, AN ACT PROHIBITING MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES FROM SERVING ON CERTAIN MUNICIPAL LEGISLATIVE BODIES.
Section 1. Subsection (e) of section 7-421 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2013):
(e) Any municipal employee shall have the right to serve on any governmental body of the town in which such employee resides except any body [which] that has responsibility for direct supervision of such employee. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection and except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, (1) no such employee shall serve on any of the following unless such employee is permitted to serve pursuant to the provisions of a municipal charter or home rule ordinance: [or serves because of membership on the legislative body of the municipality:] (A) Any board of finance created pursuant to chapter 106, [or] any special act or municipal charter or any body exercising the powers of a board of finance; (B) any body exercising zoning powers pursuant to chapter 124 or any special act or municipal charter; (C) any body exercising land use powers pursuant to chapter 125a or any special act or municipal charter; (D) any body exercising planning powers pursuant to chapter 126 or any special act or municipal charter; or (E) any body regulating inland wetlands and watercourses pursuant to chapter 440 or any special act or municipal charter; and (2) any municipality may, by ordinance adopted by its legislative body, authorize such employees to serve on (A) any body exercising zoning powers pursuant to chapter 124 or any special act or municipal charter; (B) any body exercising land use powers pursuant to chapter 125a or any special act or municipal charter; (C) any body exercising planning powers pursuant to chapter 126 or any special act or municipal charter; or (D) any body regulating inland wetlands and watercourses pursuant to chapter 440 or any special act or municipal charter.
(f) Any municipal employee who is serving on a board of finance created pursuant to chapter 106, any special act or municipal charter or on any body exercising the powers of a board of finance on October 1, 2013, may continue to serve on such board or body and may be reappointed or reelected to such office, provided nothing in this subsection shall authorize a municipal employee who has ceased serving on such board or body to be appointed or to be a candidate for such office unless such employee is permitted to serve pursuant to the provisions of a municipal charter or home rule ordinance.
*** Finally more support from some of the Bpt legislators, let’s hope the others who are not present city employees will also see the light and get on board! Finch and his Admin are not team players so why should State legislators be beholding to them over this bill? Time to wake up and be part of the voter changing of the guard that’s getting bigger and stronger slowly but surely in the Park City! *** JOIN THE CITIZENS FOR POLITICAL CHANGE, NOW! ***
Congratulations to Rep. Hennessy for securing additional support for HR 5724. I personally do not believe grandfathering is the best way to go. In my view, delaying the effective date to 2015 and providing for a vote by the citizens of Bridgeport on city employee bar provision standing alone, and a vote on a range of other City Charter revisions would be preferable. However, it’s Rep. Hennessy’s bill and I commend him for his persistence. I recently wrote to Speaker Sharkey and noted the reasons why a vote on HR 5724 this session is of critical importance. This week’s City Council budget vote is just another example of the conflicts that exist on the current Council. Senator Musto must now get on board ASAP. I hope he does so. If he doesn’t, Musto will go in November 2014.
As long as cronies are on the council this machine will do what it wants. When police officers are making a base of $46,000 protecting the city and no-show jobs are making six figures, there are huge problems.
Chosen, a patrolmen makes $61,000 and change.
Not first year without steps/bumps they don’t. $46,000.
So how many are making rookie pay and how many are at the top rate?
Come on. Tell me how much money Big Mac was earning when Finch took office and then tell me how much money he will be making with this $15,000 raise. Then tell me city employees serving on the common council is a good thing.
Best we can discover, $65k at start, $114k with new raise. I have been cc’ed on five letters to Senator Musto today from voters asking him to support and work to pass this bill. Keep the cards and letters pouring in, voters!